Electrical contact device



H. A. TUCKEY ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE Filed Oct. 14 1922 N 5 ULATIOIZ' Z59 van i B),

Harry [A TuzJIK Qy,

j, Mtorneya,

Patented @ct, 9,1923,

HARRY A, TUGKEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE.

Application filed October 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HARRY A. TUGKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Contact Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an illumi nating device for temperature indicators for the radiators of motor driven vehicles, and more particularly to a contact member whereby a circuit is completed to the illun1i nating device on the positioning of the radiator cap to close the filling opening.

Devices of this kind as heretofore manufactured have contained. wiring systems for conducting the electricity to the illuminating device and which were required to be manually disconnected before the radiator cap could be removed, but in my present device which is adapted for use in connection with the disclosure in my copending application Serial No. 491,052, filed August 19th, 1921, allowed August 25th, 1922, I provide a contact construction which automatically makes and breaks on the positioning or removal of the radiator cap from the filling opening.

Among the advantages of the present construction is the provision of a stationary spring contact member into frictional contact with which a terminal yieldably engages on the operative positioning of the indicator carried by the radiator cap when said cap is mounted on the radiator filling opening.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction with in the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing, the figure, a view in broken side elevation, discloses the preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing figure, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of a conventional vehicle radiator shell having a filling opening 2 closed by a removable cap 3 having threaded connection therewith as at 4. Rising from the cap is a conventional temperature indi- Serial No. 594,687.

eating device 5 of the well known type having secured to the outer face thereof a casing 6 having transparent side openings 7, and within which casing is mounted a lamp 8 adapted when lighted to be visiblethrough the openings 7 and also to be visible through the transparent face 9 of the indicating device 5. The indicating device 5 is carried above a horizontal tubular arm 10, the end 11 of which extends upwardly at an angle through the casing 6 and affords a mounting for the lamp 8. The opposite end of said member 10 extends downwardly as at 12, and overlies the peripheral edge of the cap 3, it mounting at its lower end a contact terminal 13 which when the cap is threaded in position to close the filling opening 2 is adapted to press against and have frictional contact with an upstanding spring contact finger 1 1 carried by a flange 15 on the inner surface of the radiator shell 1. The finger 1 1 is spaced from the flange 15 by insulating members 16, and is secured in position by a binding post 17, and from said post extends an electric conductor 18. An electric conductor illustrated in the form of a wire 19 connects the member 13 with the lamp 8 and furnishes electricity therefor.

It will be apparent that the mounting of the illuminating device on the radiator cap does not interfere with the ready removal and positioning of the cap relative to the opening 2, and that when the cap is in its set position, with the temperature indicating de vice visible to the vehicle operator, the con tact is made between the members 13 and 14 for supplying electricity to illuminate the lamp 8.

In this present embodiment, I have illustrated a single contact system wherein the return is made through the automobile frame, but it is to be understood that this invention is readily adapted for use in the conventional double contact system, both of which are used in motor vehicles of to-day.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination with a cap, a channeled arm resting on and extending across the same, said arm at opposite ends carrying portions extending in relatively opposite directions, a lamp removably mounted at the end of one portion, an electric conductor in. said arm, a conducting terminal carried by the other bent portion and with which said conductor is connected, and a contact with Which said terminal is adapted to engage.

2. In combination with a cap, a tubular arm resting on and extending across the same, said arm at opposite ends bein formed With portions extending in relatively opposite directions, a lamp removably mounted in the end of one portion, an electric conductor in said arm, a conducting terminal closing the end of the other bent portion and 10 with which said conductor is connected, and an upstanding yieldable contact finger against which said terminal is adapted to bear.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

HARRY A, TUGKEY. 

